Pixie's Purpose

I haven't given up or gone away completely

2012-02-08T19:18:00.003-05:00

Just a quick note to let you know I'm still out here and working on things. Right now I am however on Jury Duty so I really don't have a lot of time to post and all. I'll get back as quick as possible.
Carry on in the meantime.

Today I am so stoked!

2012-02-05T13:45:00.002-05:00

There was great news when I stepped on the scales this morning for my weekly weigh in. I am down 3.8 pounds from last week. I am so stoked! Also when I took my measurements, I'm down 1/4" in the waist. *does happy dance and wonders how many points that can account for*

I know this isn't going to happen every single week, though it would be nice and it is definitely great for one's motivation. It is so much easier to continue working towards your goal when you see some sort of progress being made.

Hope your day is going well.

Walking up hill

2012-02-03T16:41:00.004-05:00

I hope today finds you doing well. My exercising seems to be coming easier to me. I have stepped the sit ups to 100 and the crunches are back down to 20 from 30 however, my son showed me this way to do them that seems to get more impact. At least I feel it more and it's more difficult to do them.

I have also upped the water in-take and have started walking on the tread mill again. At the moment it is on a level surface. College Boy decided to use it a while back and put it when I had it on a 12% incline. Now it doesn't seem to want to go back. I'm gonna have to work on that today. Just another prime reason children shouldn't be playing with their parents toys.

I was checking out some things on the w.w. site yesterday and dismayed to find the following:
I can walk at 3 mph for 10 mins and get 1 activity point... OR I can ride a motorcycle for 10 minutes and get 1 point, or shoot pool 10 minutes and get 1 point, miniature golf 10 minutes and get 1 point, hunt 10 minutes and get 1 point. What the heck?! Something is not right with this picture. One of my friends asked what happened if you were hunting from a motorcycle for 10 minutes? lol.

Mooch did find that I had put the magnet key back and attached it to the handle of the treadmill. I heard it fall last night and her batting it around and hitting the sides. Glad to know she is still amused with it. We have a set of box springs stored next to the treadmill and between the two of them, they seem to be her personal jungle-gym.

Time to grab a book and hop on the tread mill for a walk. Catch you later.

I thought today would never end!

2012-02-02T17:50:00.004-05:00

I work in a manufacturing plant and my office is now on the 2nd floor, my bosses office is on the first floor so I can count going up and down the stairs a certain amount of times towards my exercise points. Well, the guys out on the manufacturing floor sure made sure I got my points in today. I must have gone up and down the stairs to my bosses office 30 times today. I felt more like a yo-yo than any thing. (Before you ask why, the boss has to review and sign off on all PO's written and of course the guys can't bring in several at once, the bring them periodically through the day to interrupt the other projects being worked on.)

I must admit I seem to be having a much easier time with the w.w. diet this time than I did last year. When all is said and done, maybe this won't be as bad as I had thought it would be.

Oh, I did look for and find the magnet key to the treadmill. Mooch was kind enough to leave one of them next to her food dish so I attached it to the treadmill so she can't take off with it. She's not gonna be to happy about that when she tries to run off with it, but she may find herself amused more when it is dangling from the handle so she can bat and bite at it. Believe me she can use a little more exercise too.

Time to go do the exercises. Have a great evening.

Am I skinny yet?

2012-02-01T16:32:00.002-05:00

Okay, whether you are a kid or a parent you have heard this phrase in the car "Are we there yet?" that is how I'm feeling today only it's "Am I skinny yet?"

I'm staying on track with my eating, still doing the basic exercises, though I have been neglecting walking on the treadmill. Actually to be honest, my frisky one year old kitten likes to play with the magnetic key to turn it on and both of them seem to be M.I.A. *makes note to self on to do list- find key to treadmill*.

I know I'm only half way through my first week back on the official w.w. diet, but I sure don't feel anything in my clothes even beginning to loosen up. You would think that at least something would feel a little looser than normal. However, I am not giving up. I'm going to conquer this yet.

Keeping at it even with a bad mood

2012-01-31T18:05:00.002-05:00

Well, I'm still keeping at it even in my bad mood state. Has nothing to do with my diet... well, maybe just a little to do with the diet, like 1% or so, the rest has to do with frustrations at work. We all have them and I know I'll get over it eventually.

Day 3 of the w.w. deal, still keeping on track with my eating. I do keep peeking in the mirror to see if any rabbit ears are peaking out from my hair yet. If I suddenly run screaming through the posts, you'll know they have made an appearance.

I still have to do my exercises for the day. I should do that before I make and eat dinner, it seems to go over so much better with my stomach. It does tend to protest doing sit ups and crunches after you have eaten.

Hope you're keeping up your good work too.

Getting back on track

2012-01-30T14:36:00.002-05:00

I didn't wait for the husband to sign "us" up for the weight watchers. I went a head and signed myself up yesterday. Tracked my food and all and I had still managed to come in under the total amount of points I'm allotted in a day. :)

So far today I'm on track with my eating and I have dinner planned, though I haven't calculated out my points to know how large my portion will be. I have done my sit ups and crunches and also started off with my tabata exercise. I have to go rescue my son in a bit so I'll have to do my hula hooping later.

Here's to staying positive and getting fit.

Here we go hoop de hoop

2012-01-29T20:10:00.003-05:00

So far I am having a blast with my hula hoop. The back of my hands are slightly bruised from being used in a way then haven't been used before, but I was assured to let them rest for a time when the bruising showed up and they would be fine.

I hooped for probably about 20 minutes today just trying to work on the flow move we learned in class and how to make a circle as I am hooping. Oh, and how to hoop in the opposite direction that I am accustom to going.

I went to the grocery store today and loaded up on fresh fruits and veggies. I about choked on the bill when I saw the total. Almost makes me wish I had paid attention to what my grandmother was trying to teach me in the garden instead of trying to figure ways to get out of pulling all the weeds. :p

The husband asked me today when the diet officially starts and I told him just as soon as he signed us up for weight watchers again. I surely can't remember how many points is what worth. Ok, I remember a Big Mac is 10 points and a medium fry is 14 points but a little slack here cause if that's what I had and I had 29 points for the day... I pretty much wiped the whole day out with that one meal.

At any rate, I'm still working on it and I'm not giving up.

This is not going well, is it?

2012-01-28T15:10:00.003-05:00

To be honest, the exercising the past several days has been spotty and limited at best.

I did however go to my Dr. appointment yesterday and the first of the results for my blood testing is in, which was the A1C to test for diabetes. My Dr. says that 5.6 is normal and that 6.5 means you are diabetic. My result was 6.1 which puts me towards boarder line, especially since there is a family history of it now. She ordered me to get back onto weight watchers and to lose 20 lbs. :/
Well, that was the idea to start with. At least my husband is in support and he is willing to go back on the diet with me. Life style changes are coming very soon to our household.

Today was my first hooping class. What a blast. There were only two of us that showed up to take the class so it was very intensive and riotous as neither of us seemed to be as coordinated as we wished we were. We had fun laughing with each other and at ourselves as we'd try to learn to maneuver the hoop and pass it from one portion of our body to another and learning our first flow move. By the end of class we could do the move, but it was not nearly as graceful as our instructor. Needless to say we both vowed to go back home and work on our technique before the next class is offered.

So I am on my way with hooping and preparing to make a lifestyle change again in the eating habits. Hope things are going well for you.

When I fall off the wagon, I fall hard

2012-01-24T17:26:00.003-05:00

I got my new hoop in yesterday. It's slightly larger than I anticipated and slower in moving, but I guess that is ok for a beginning hoop. I'll be getting a new one at my class on Saturday.

As for the rest, yesterday was not a great day. Snacked on chips, had a major craving for butterbeer and made some for my son and me-- I drank 2. Can we say major fat and sugar overload. I think I made up for every regular soda I've skipped since the 1st of January with that one.

So today it is back on the horse and back to work. Hope your day went better.

So far no good

2012-01-22T16:33:00.002-05:00

Well, I haven't lost any more weight and I haven't lost any more inches. :/ However I am not giving up. I'm still doing my exercises. I guess I may have to bump up the water intake and start adding additional reps.

My new dance hoop should arrive sometime this week. I'm so excited, I can't wait to take my class.

In the words of Jimmy V. "Never, never, never give up."

Another long day...

2012-01-19T20:36:00.002-05:00

Well today was another long day and I have yet to do any of my exercising. I'll work on that after I finish syncing my phone.

I did however after blogging yesterday manage to get in another set of 50 sit ups and 20 crunches. Personally... I feel pretty good about that.

I took the plunge today and enrolled in the hula hoop dance lessons. I can't seem to get anyone to go with me, so I guess I'll just have to learn it and have fun by myself. My first class is next Saturday so I'm really looking forward to it. Sure hope the weather is nice.

Happy exercising.

Losing track of the days

2012-01-18T19:32:00.002-05:00

Things were a bit hectic yesterday. A long day at work, I was so wiped out by the time we got home that I did my exercises and was in bed before 10:00PM. *sighs*

I can remember when that was still considered being early in the night.

I am pleased to report that my stomach is most definitely laying flatter without a lot of effort to hold it in! Yeah! I don't know if I have lost any weight yet but will check this weekend.

I am definitely signing up for the hula hoop dance class I found. I have already ordered the other hoop for it. I've been trying to enlist some friends to go with me that I thought would also enjoy it.

I'm up to a consistent 50 sit ups and 30 crunches now with the ab roller. I did the 3 lb hula hoop for about 5 minutes today. It is a real challenge to keep that thing around my waist and not around my ankles.

Hope all is going well for you.

Day 8 Was offered a prescription not to do sit ups

2012-01-16T18:44:00.003-05:00

I'm beginning to feel the sit ups more in my lower back now, which I understand and needs to be strengthened as well. This morning my chiropractor offered to write me a prescription not to do the sit ups. I bowed out of the offer as gracefully as possible. I mean gee whiz, I'm really working at making sure I do them each day here and trying to develop a good habit.

I ordered another hula hoop the other day, this one is more for hoop dancing and such; it should be here by the end of the week. I can't wait. I even found a hooping class in my area. Shocked me, but I am grateful that there is one. It looks like a lot of fun and a great way to burn calories. If I recall my reading correctly they said 30 minutes of hooping burns 600 calories. I can use that!

Day 7 and beginning to feel... it?

2012-01-15T13:51:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure which "it" I am feeling, but I definitely feel something.

While I am trying not to over do but to also do enough to get some results and strengthen my muscles I am now feeling it in my back and stomach. I can see that my stomach is already flatter but my back muscles are letting me know that they exist now too.

I am finding it difficult to remember to drink so much more water here at home. While I do drink some, it is not nearly the quantity that I drink at work.

My son told me about Tabata and while I have no intention of even trying the burpee exercise I did find some for core training that I think I will try to incorporate into the daily routine.

Now, I'm off to search for some hoop dancing classes in my area. They look not only fun, but like they would be great all over exercise as well.

Day 6 Bad news Good News

2012-01-14T14:15:00.004-05:00

Several short comings yesterday.

I didn't post, I ate chips quite a few chips, I ate m&m's and I didn't exercise at all. *hangs head in shame* I must work on my discipline.

On the plus side, this morning I weighed in and while I'm up 5/10's of a pound, when I measured I have lost a 1/2" in the waist, hips and on both thighs; so something is working.

Today I'm working on the laundry and household chores which will help burn up some calories and add to the exercise routine. Keeping positive and while I had a down fall it is still nice to see a little progress to help keep me motivated.

Hope your day goes well.

Day 4 Long day

2012-01-12T21:47:00.004-05:00

Just stopped by to post before heading to bed. It's been a very long day.

Exercise was minimal today, just did the ab-roller. While today's eating habits weren't anything to be proud of, I could have done worse and at least drank several large glasses of water. Something I generally don't do.

At any rate, I'm beginning to feel better and some of my muscles don't seem to be protesting doing their jobs as they have been. Still staying positive and trying to make sure I at least do something each day.

Hope your day went well also.

Day 3 and still going

2012-01-11T16:34:00.005-05:00

I'm sure it's a bit crazy and mostly my imagination, but it sure seems a lot easier to hold my belly in; but after only three days of exercising? Yeah, it's got to be my imagination.

Today has been pretty productive. Went to work for half the day, did some errands, came home and did some sit ups and some leg crunches. Worked with the hula hoop for a while. For my break, I went in and cleaned out some of the things in the closet that don't fit or I haven't worn in ages (for reasons other than not fitting). Then I hopped on the treadmill for a short but reasonable paced walk.

While I'm at all this I'm also trying to remember to drink more water to help flush my system. I did see a video yesterday that was talking about helping your body break down cellulite and drinking lots of water was one of the things mentioned.

They also mentioned deep tissue massaging the affected areas 4-5 times daily to help break up the cellulite pockets. Have you ever had a deep massage? OMG, I had one back in the 80's and thought... well, no thought to it, I cried my way through the thing. The therapist worked very hard to get all those knots out of my muscles and let me tell you it hurt during, but when they were done I sure felt much better. I think I'll do my own massaging this time though.

Ok back to the household chores for me. Hope you have a great day.

Day 2-- Feel the burn

2012-01-10T17:01:00.003-05:00

Well, I crawled out of bed at 6:00 AM this morning and of course since I am so out of shape, I could already feel a bit of the burn from what little bit of exercises I did yesterday. I guess you have got to start somewhere.

My husband and I work at the same company while I am currently part time, we tend to ride in together on the days I work a full 8 hours. Since he is the operations manager of the facility, we generally don't get out until long after I have clocked out. That being the case and since I can't exactly do my exercise routine from home here, I decided I climb up and down the stairs. I thought 20 times would be a reasonable amount to start.

Starting from the lower level I managed 5 1/2 times up and down before I thought my thighs would absolutely give out. They felt like noodles as I carefully walked back to my office. Again, I remind myself that taking small steps and not getting discouraged is more progress than trying to make a giant leap and giving up on the project.

With any luck we will manage to get out of here at a reasonable time and maybe I can put some time on the tread mill, hula hoop and ab-roller. I'd like to get a little bit of time in each day on them.

Lunch wasn't too bad, I forwent my beloved nacho's bell-grande and got 3 tacos (no sour cream) and a diet pepsi. Not as good as it could have been, but again, I'm striving for moderation here not starvation.

Hope you are having success with your endeavors and new year goals.

Resolution vs Motivation

2012-01-09T16:31:00.005-05:00

Well, after a very long hiatus I'm back.

Instead of searching for my purpose I am determined to lose the weight that I have put on over the past several years and to get this old body back into some kind of reasonable shape. For several years I have resolved to do this, but my motivation was not quite up with my resolve. This year I am determined more than ever to succeed at this. Sitting on the couch eating potato chips and drinking soda's has got to stop and it stops now!

It is a crying shame that one who used to swim, dive, play soft ball and tennis, hike and all sorts of other activities cannot this day (at 50 even do 1 sit up). For my part, I refuse to turn into a fat old blob that I seem to be headed towards.

I hate exercise, so I decided to follow some advise of one of my good friends and try to have some fun with it. I went to the sporting goods store and purchased a weighted hula hoop for adults, an ab roller... I have a tread mill. With these things and by doing some basic exercises along with some dancing to my favorite tunes I intend to get this body back on track and back into shape. No dieting, just simple portion control and being reasonable.

I'm counting on you for support. At the beginning of the year I weighed myself and took measurements and am tracking them on a spreadsheet. So you can follow along, I will post my them from this past Sunday. Know that I am 5'4" and my target weight is between 120-125 lbs.

Current Weight as of 01/08/2012-- 157.1 lbs
Waist: 33"
Hips: 40 1/2"
Right Thigh: 26"
Left Thigh: 26"

Wish me luck,.